‘I was acting in self-defence’ claims dad who broke jaw

A dad who left a man with a broken jaw and eye socket following a row over pool told a court he hit him in self-defence.

Brinley Bennellick, from Colliers Way, Tilehurst, was celebrating the birth of his baby with family in the Tyler’s Rest pub, off Norcot Road in Tilehurst, on December 12 last year when trouble kicked off.

He explained the pub was operating a ‘winner plays on’ system at the pool table, where the winner of a game played the person who next put their £1 on the table.

Mr Want said he had put his £1 down to play next but Bennellick’s brother Brett objected and a row erupted. Mr Stanger said the pair made their peace but then “something happened he does not remember”.

“Next thing he knew he was waking up having been knocked down,” he said.

Giving evidence yesterday, Bennellick, 24, said he acted in self-defence, saying: “Brett pushed him [Mr Want] into me. My pint glass was in my hand by my chest, it smashed all down me and on my chest then it fell to the floor.

“All I said was, ‘Watch out’, and he turned round and said to me, ‘You’re lucky this one went over you as the next one’s going over your head’. He walked back towards a table to pick up a glass.

“I automatically thought he was going to hit me with a glass.”

In a police interview read out in court Bennellick said of Mr Want: “Matey’s a complete and utter f****** k***-****.”

Bennellick said Mr Want was being a “nuisance” all night. He denies one count of grievous bodily harm. The trial continues.